In the latest episode of Roberts Rants, GolfMagic Editor Andy Roberts reveals why he’s fed up of the current OWGR system and why it’s time to take a leaf out of Data Golf’s book.
The words of the LIV Golf star and Ryder Cup legend during a sit-down interview with me.
While many of us have realised this for some time now given LIV Golf events remain shut out of receiving valuable OWGR points, Garcia makes a valid point.
The damage has been done.
At least for those on LIV Golf who have to pay a visit to Wikipedia to see which unknowns are in front of them when the latest rankings get updated every Monday morning.
No matter what you think of LIV Golf in October 2024, put your hand up if you really believe Garcia, checks OWGR website, is the 395th best golfer on the planet?
Yes that’s right, players such as Oliver Lindell of Finland and South Africa’s Ryan van Velzen are now positioned in front of the 2017 Masters champion and record Ryder Cup points scorer.
If you are still looking, stop, van Velzen doesn’t have even have a Wikipedia page.
Even two-time major champion and former World No.1 Dustin Johnson, who yes might prefer to be fishing on his boat and partying with his lover Paulina Gretzky, is currently sat on the 439th rung of the world ladder.
As it stands, only one LIV Golf player ranks inside in the top 10 in the OWGR with Bryson DeChambeau at ninth.
Jon Rahm is 14th, Tyrrell Hatton is 19th, and Brooks Koepka is 45th.
Few on LIV Golf have ever asked to have the same amount of OWGR points as those available on the PGA Tour as a result of their limited field, shotgun start and 54-hole format.
But some of form of points allocation has been required to avoid the current situation we are now faced with today.
A broken world golf ranking system.
No wonder Garcia let off a big sigh when I brought up the topic of OWGR during my interview with him last week.
“To be totally honest, I don’t think world ranking points are worth it anymore for us,” said Garcia.
“Even if we got world ranking points now with the rankings we have, it just wouldn’t really help the majority of us.
“We were looking at it and for someone to be able to stay in the top 50 in the world, you would probably have to win like 10 of the 14 tournaments on LIV Golf.”
Why it’s time the OWGR took a leaf out of Data Golf’s book in 2025
Many golf fans now consider Data Golf to be a true reflection of where everyone stands in the professional game.
And I must admit, I’m in that camp too.
I am completely done with the OWGR, at least until structural change has been made.
Data Golf has Garcia at 22nd in the world as of 14 October 2024.
Rahm and Hatton are inside the top seven.
That’s a much fairer reflection of Garcia’s world status, especially considering he pipped Hatton to a podium position on the LIV Golf League standings this season.
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Garcia, 44, is arguably playing some of his best golf since he slipped on the famous Green Jacket more than seven years ago at Augusta.
He even told me that he considers his third-place finish on the LIV Golf standings could lend itself to some major starts in 2025.
“Yeah I hope so… at the end of the day I just need to play like that and put myself there and hopefully the majors and the organisations that take care of the majors take a look at that and give it the credit it deserves,” said Garcia.
“That’s all I can control at the end of the day. If for whatever reason they don’t think it’s good enough then I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, I’ll go and play in the qualifiers and just try to get in as many majors as I can.
“Obviously The Masters I always get to play but the others I will try to see what I have to do to qualify for them. That’s all I can do.”
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